The number of cases of leptospirosis has risen at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) almost three weeks after the flooding incidents brought about by Typhoon Ulysses.
Out of the 163 cases logged from January 1 to December 1, 89 were recorded between November 12 and December 1.
Around 20 patients are now recovering at the gym which can accommodate more than 40 patients after the wards for leptospirosis and dialysis rooms at the NKTI reached full occupancy.
“As of yesterday, ang report sa akin ay mga siyam na ang [leptospirosis] na may COVID din, sa ibang area naman sila. ‘Di namin sila nilalagay rito sa gym. (As of yesterday, nine with leptospirosis have COVID-19. They are in a different area. We do not admit them at the gym),” NKTI Exec. Dir. Dr. Rose Marie Rosete-Liquete clarified.
“So ‘yung mga nurse namin sa itaas, mga non-COVID, napipilitan naming ibaba. Ngayon naman na may lepto, ‘yung mga nurse namin doon sa ibang area, napupunta naman sa ating lepto ward. So in a way, overworked na sila at kulang (Our non-COVID nurses are being utilized. Now that there is leptospirosis, our nurses in other areas have been moved to the lepto ward. So in a way, they are overworked and undermanned),” Liquete added.
The NKTI is now appealing to other hospitals to not transfer their patients to the facility if possible.
As of November 14, leptospirosis cases in the country declined to 1,070 from the 3,140 in 2019. Fatalities also went down from 332 to 125.
Health experts are advising the public to avoid wading through floodwater or to use boots and prophylaxis if it cannot be avoided. Leptospirosis symptoms include fever, muscle pain, headache, calf-muscle pain, and reddish eyes. – Report from Mark Fetalco
